The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-26

| ing plants costs them barely more than half as
much as if they used coal, while the ratio is
nearer fve-eignths OF the coal the smaller
| consumers for warming purposes. THIS is taken
the basis of the above-quoted value OF coal at
| Pittsburg. but it also presupposes an enormous
waste, as already intimated. which is pretty
sure to occur when article is felt to be dirt
Cheap There is no room TO douot that vast
quantities of the gas escapes into the air, I'M
burned, in spite of numerous strong assurances
to the contrary.
1t may be objected that our way of stating
the case is unfair, because IL credits TO the In
dustries ali the saving that is effected IN warm
ing the residences of the people. 1t Is not uu-
fair, however, even If we ignore the fact that
the workers enabled by this saving to work
on a diminished wage scale. The fact IS that
the use of natural gas permits very large re-
ductlon In cost otherwise than as already noted.
Fewer hands are required turn out a given
quantity of material; it iS estimated that the
work done IN the different factories of Pittsbure
is accomplished by 5000 less aborers than would
have to be mployed if coal was used instead OF
gas In the rolling mills, for instance, there is
no loss of time by the chilling that results from
heating that inevitably attends the varying igni-
ton of coal The supply of gas is beautifully
uniform, and its combustion equally It is
introduced to the interior of the fire chambers
through perforated pipes which distribute it
much the rose of a wateripgspot scatters
moisture the flowers in garden, and
any little inequality in the pressure ia easily
and instantly compensated by the turning of
regulating valve which gives the operator COM
process. snow
cling in of coal. raking out of ashes and cart
ing them away; SCOT to foul the workers;
choke I'D aDertures. and demonstrate that ma
terial has been lost by not being consumed. And
in the glass-works there other advantages,
due to the fact that the gas contains no sulphur.
The glass is more regular in texture, very much
more diaphanous than by the old process and so
much less liable to fracture that the window glass
manufacturers of Pittsburg perform the
hitherto impossible feat of guaranteeing the
purchasers of their product against loss by
breaking in the package. The use of natural
gas In glass works has already resulted in such
large improvement in the quality of the product
to warrant the idea that il will much
longer be necessary to send to Europe for cast
ngs out of which to make telescope lenses of the
largest SIZE
Reference has already been made to the non
production of smoke when natural gas is
burned. This is, of itself, great boon to the
city. making a most important difference in the
washing bills of the people, and giving to the
place an air of cheerfuness to which it had for
many years been stranger. 1t is found that
perfect combustion is assured when the gas is
mixed with eight to fourteen times its weight of
air, and this is provided for in the recently per-
fected smaller burners. But it is alleged that
nature takes care OF herself when the burning
Is done on large scale; and the very latest of
the improvements made in the rolling mills is
the doing away with certain cumbrous devices
which performed unnecessary regulation.
In whatever way the relief has been obtained,
even though it be the expense of
lading the atmosphere with natural gas to be
breathed by the people, there is no room to
doubt the fact that the pail OF smoke which used
to hang over Pittsburg like perpetual London
fog in miniature is there longer. Steam
rises in large quantities and loads the air with
moro than the normal amount of vauor. and
there is some smoke, both coal and artificial gas
being still used in Pittsburg The writer of
this article had to pay full rates for coal fire in
his room at the hotel. though natural-gas is
used for cooking and washing in the basement
of the same building But by far the greater
part of the smoke nuisance has vanished into
thin air" and the people are apparently conf
dent it has departed forever
IN "a int fir iuid al
is not worth while here to go into statement
or geological facts bearing on the case and with
out them the arguments pro and con could not
be understood. But in practical way it may
be said to be very improbable that the supply
will soon give out. It is drawn from wells which
are rather widely scattered, already noted,
but about half of the number, and those giving
By far the largest volume of gas, distant
about twenty miles and situated in compara-
lively small area in the Murraysville and Wash
ington county fields. In of these the
pressure is considerably reduced from the some
thing like i've hundred pounds to the square
inch met with at the beginning of their career, but
the flow or gas IL said to be great in nearly all
of them when they first opened. And
to result from filing up by sand incrusta-
ton. the removal of which permitted the to
flow as freely Another district, about
seven miles from Murraysville, recently discov-
yield than the wells now in use. Hence it is
garded reasonably certain that the people of
Pitts burg and vicinity have at least twenty-five
years supply In sight, saying nothing of undis-
covered territory. This sketch of present con-
diticns is already too long to permit adden-
dunn in specializing of what may follow. The
morrow will very probably be found able to take
care of itself in this particular, in most 9TH
ers. oday is caring for itself gloriously in
Pittsburg aud its surroundings, not few neigh
boring towns having awaited themselves of the
light not to be despised by the aid of natural gas
at cost of next to nothing"